1. Abnormal Behavior *
A psychological disorder, causing distress, disability, or dysfunction. Defined symptomatically by the DSM.

2. Statistics on Disorders
1 in 4 affected each year
Each year prevalence: 18.1% anxiety disorders;
1% schizophrenia; 4.4% alcohol use disorder
More lower SES
Mentally ill stigmatized
Many disorders comorbid.
Comorbid = more than one disorder at a time
Most severe disorders in a small group of people
6% of population have 3 or more disorders

3. DSM * Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
American Psychiatric Association
Currently DSM IV-TR
Common language and standard criteria for classifying mental disorders
Controversies include:
Cultural bias (e.g. sexual disorders)
Medical rather than behavioral model
Diagnosing, e.g. ADHD, autism, asperger’s.

4. Diagnosing Disorder: The DSM
Axis I
major clinical disorders
Axis II personality disorders
Axis III
physical symptoms
Axis IV
social and cultural factors
Axis V
global assessment of functioning
The DSM organizes the diagnosis of disorder according to five dimensions (or axes) relating to different aspects of disorder or disability.

5. Categories of Disorders include:
Disorders Diagnosed in Infancy/Early Childhood
Delirium, dementia, & amnesia
Dissociative disorders
Substance Abuse Disorders
Schizophrenia & other Psychotic Disorders
Mood Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Somatoform Disorders
Eating Disorders
Sexual Disorders
Personality Disorders
Impulse Control Disorders

6. Biopsychosocial Model *
biological factors
come from the body
e.g., genes; neurotransmitters
psychological factors
come from the individual
e.g., patterns of negative thinking; stress responses
social factors
come from society and culture
e.g., socioeconomic status, homelessness, abuse
Key concept is
Interaction.

7. Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety – irrational fear, dread, or agitation; physiological arousal
1. Phobias: unreasonable fear; avoidance
a. Specific phobia – clearly defined object or situation, e.g. dogs Video‬‏
b. Social phobia – extreme shyness or discomfort in social situations
2. Panic Disorder *
Sudden attacks of terror leading to behavioral changes & physical symptoms

8. Anxiety Disorders, cont.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder *
a. Obsessions *
Repetitive, distressing or frightening thoughts
b. Compulsions *
Repetitive behaviors (an attempt to calm the thoughts)

9. Dissociative Identity Disorder *
2 or more distinct personalities in the same person
Memory disruption regarding the “alter”
Rare
Some psychologists don’t believe the disorder really exists
NOT the same as Schizophrenia
DID Video‬‏

10. Mood Disorders * Major depressive disorder * More than 2 weeks
Low mood (despair) - withdrawal, loss of interest & pleasure; eating & sleeping disturbance Video‬‏
More than 2 weeks
Impaired functioning
Twice as many women
May have psychotic features
Suicidal thoughts or attempts

11. Mood Disorders, cont. Dysthymia *
Mild, chronic depression, more than 2 yrs.
Bipolar disorder * Video‬‏
Swings from low (depression) to high (mania); near normal in between
Mania *
Exceptional energy, enthusiasm, agitation, irritable

12. Risk Factors for Suicide *
Diagnosable psychiatric disorder
Male, esp. older and physically ill
Method (guns succeed more than pills)
Prior attempts, family history, exposure
History of being abused
Incarceration
High risk behavior
Adolescence 2% attempt

13. Schizophrenia * Video – Gerald Psychosis: loss of contact with reality
Positive symptoms – hallucinations, delusions, inappropriate affect, disorganized speech and behavior
Negative symptoms – social withdrawal, deterioration of adaptive behavior, flat affect, poor problem solving abilities

14. Types of Schizophrenia *
Disorganized *
Language and/or behavior chaotic, illogical
Catatonic *
Extreme disorder of movement or no movement
Paranoid *
Hallucinations or delusions most prominent symptom
Undifferentiated *
Mixed; symptoms from 2-3 other types

15. Possible Causes of Schizophrenia *
Genes – runs in families
Brain– loss of neurons; enlarged ventricles
Neurotransmitters – e.g. excess dopamine
Poverty, malnutrition, disease
Prenatal damage – e.g. viruses
Stress
Substance Abuse may trigger
Interactions between items above

16. Personality Disorders *
Inflexible patterns of thinking, feeling or relating to others
These patterns cause problems in personal, social & work situations.
Inability to understand needs of others
Three “clusters”
A) Odd, eccentric
B) Dramatic/erratic, BPD Video
C) Anxious/inhibited

17. Antisocial Personality Disorder *
Pervasive pattern of violating the rights of others
Begins in childhood or early adolescence
Continues through adulthood
3x more males
Alcohol, drug abuse
Egocentric, impulsive
Lie, cheat, steal, criminal behavior
Biological and environmental factors

18. Somatoform Disorders *
Real physical symptoms
Not explained by medical condition.
Stress-related
More females
Ex: conversion disorder, hypochondriasis *
Hypochondriasis = excessive worry about having a physical illness
Contrast with factitious disorder – no real physical illness, just imagined or faked

19. Discussion Questions Why is lower SES associated with mental illness?
Should treatment for mental illness be required?
Should the homeless, alcoholic mentally ill be institutionalized?
Should mental health “check-ups” be part of yearly physicals for children? Adults?